The Emerging Prevalence of Fragile Families
Kathryn Edin
Unmarried couples with children are a rapidly growing norm. These out of wedlock birth increases are not due primarily to increases in teen pregnancy. While teen pregnancy is a problem, the growth is occurring among older persons, mostly from less educated and lower income young adults. These fragile parental relationships have a high rate of separation. This separation creates many serious risks to children. The increase in the number of fragile families has given us pause to think about what policies and services are needed.
